The Promise

Y’Anna Crawley received her shot at gospel-music fame when she took top honors on the second season of BET’s Sunday Best. She brings years of experience as a background singer for the likes of Angie Stone and Jennifer Lopez to the project; enlisting production help from such gospel trendsetters as Lou “Buster” Brown, James “Big Jim” Wright and PAJAM doesn’t hurt, either. In the end, though, it’s Y’Anna's unaffected, heart-baring vocal style that gives The Promise its emotional impact. The theme of God’s power to change lives runs through these songs, from the ringing affirmation of the title track through the autobiographical “Stronger” and the timeless “Worship Song.” Y’Anna adds some slow-simmer funk to the mix in “Looking Towards Heaven” and embraces retro-soul on the rafters-shaking “I’m Blessed.” She reprises her standout moment on Sunday Best by infusing Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands” with fire and tenderness. Rather than going the diva route, Y’Anna brings an honest sense of struggle and achievement to The Promise making it one of season’s standout gospel debuts.